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What's your take on Proposition 1?~C4Chaos said Oct 21, 2007, 2:08 PM: |
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Seattle Times Sunday had a detailed coverage of Proposition 1. Check it out. Feel free to post your thoughts on this thread. Proposition 1: Free-for-all over roads, transitSeattle Times staff reporter Opponents of the multibillion-dollar roads and transit measure on next month's ballot were once so underfunded and disorganized that few people took them seriously. No longer. As the campaign enters its final weeks, opposition to the ballot measure — the largest proposed tax package in state history — has broadened and packs more punch. Several elected leaders, including King County Executive Ron Sims, have announced they would vote no on the measure. And an opposition group has raised enough money to run television ads, forcing the “yes” campaign to respond to their arguments. Some organizations are so uncertain about the ballot measure that they're officially neutral, including the Kirkland, Redmond and Shoreline city councils and 43rd District Democrats, in one of the state's most liberal districts. “There's been a change of heart,” Redmond Mayor Rosemarie Ives said about the Redmond City Council. “Before I went on vacation in August, my council was hot to trot in supporting it. Now there's no position.” Proposition 1 backers had hoped to avoid a major political tussle. They spent five years crafting a fragile political compromise designed to gain as much political and public support as possible. The plan includes billions of dollars for highway improvement from Pierce County to Everett and even more money to build 50 miles of light rail to Snohomish County, the Eastside and Tacoma.
Proposition 1 Proposition 1 would increase car-tab and sales taxes to improve highways and extend light rail in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties. Backers say the plan would cost about $18 billion in 2006 dollars. Adding inflation, financing, operations, overhead and cash reserves, the entire package could cost around $38 billion by 2027 and a total of $47 billion by 2057.What it would do Highways and roads: The plan would spend about $7 billion, in 2006 dollars, on more than two dozen highway and local road projects, including widening Interstate 405 and improving Mercer Street in Seattle. Almost $1 billion would go toward replacing the Highway 520 floating bridge. Sound Transit: Another $10.8 billion would extend Sound Transit light rail east to Redmond's Overlake area, south to Tacoma and north to 164th Street Southwest in Snohomish County, and enhance commuter-rail and regional bus service. The cost in new taxes Sales taxes: The tax would increase one penny per $10 purchase to pay for highway projects and a nickel per $10 purchase to pay for light rail — a total of about $150 a year per household, on average. Car tabs: A new tax would add $80 per $10,000 of vehicle value. Who pays: Both taxes would be paid by most households in urban areas of King, Pierce and Snohomish counties. Information online Supporters: www.yesonroadsandtransit.org Opponents: www.notoprop1.org |
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Re: What's your take on Proposition 1?Shan said Oct 29, 2007, 3:28 PM: |
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I have been waffling on this one for a while now. The point that we're all talk and no action around here is so very valid. At the same time I don't really care for the sales tax or the roads expansion - but perhaps it is worth it to get the expanded light rail project going… |
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